As has written in this newsletter and other places, improving a building’s energy efficiency leads to:
• significant energy cost savings
• more reliable systems
• happier and more comfortable residents and users
• higher resale value
• lower O&M costs.
A problem for many, however, is finding the funds to implement the strategies to improve energy efficiency. Funding particularly affects people in poorer neighborhoods, living in older homes. While, this can be overcome, in part, by low-interest loans by organizations such as C-PACE, there are other issues disproportionally impacting owners of older buildings, issues of mold, asbestos and other hazards. One cannot implement an upgrade if a hazard keeps a contractor from doing the work. Yet many energy efficiency programs do not compensate building owners for these ancillary, but important and necessary, cleanups. A new program in Connecticut has created funding to help homeowners address those barriers.
Connecticut’s Statewide Weatherization Barrier Remediation Program (https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Energy/Conservation-and-Load-Management/Weatherization-Barrier-Mitigation) will pay for the cleanup of mold, asbestos and other health and safety issues that can prevent homeowners from pursuing weatherization projects.
The state’s utilities acknowledge that 25% to 30% of low-income customers cannot take advantage of energy efficiency incentive programs just because of health and safety issues in their homes which must be cleaned up before contractors can, for example, do a blower-door test to check for air leaks or seal up air leaks. However, remediation is unaffordable to many, forcing them to pay higher energy bills for the inefficiencies that cannot be corrected. While existing weatherization programs pay contractors a fee for their time and materials of their projects, homeowners receive no funding for the necessary remediation to allow the project to move forward.
One firm which does some remediation work estimates that costs in small homes average about $6,400 for asbestos removal, $11,000 for mold, and more for buildings with multiple issues.
The new program, with initial funding of over $8 million, is expected to cover the cost of remediating hazardous conditions for up to 1,000 income-eligible households over the next 3 years, drawn from a list of homes that could not participate in state energy efficiency programs due to these issues. After remediation, buildings will have energy efficiency upgrades done through either free or low-cost state or utility weatherization programs, sealing air leaks and installing low-flow showerheads. The State acknowledges that the list of households needing remediation far exceeds the initial funding and certain homes will get higher priority.
CCES has the experts to help you – wherever you are located – determine which energy upgrades would be more effective in reducing your energy usage and costs. We can navigate the systems in your state to get maximum financial incentives to perform the upgrades and can bring in the energy and remediation experts to have the remediation and energy upgrade done properly and reliably. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.